Page 89 of Lahaina Noon

“Because it’s true, my love. Jack and the others found her for you. Look.” She pointed behind him.

He turned his head and saw Jack limping towards him. He was ashen and covered in blood, but he held Mirra in his arms, who Bridget thought looked very much like Vaughn.

Vaughn tried to stand but dropped to his knees again. He shook his head, “No, it’s not possible.”

Mirra weakly turned her head as Jack dropped next to Vaughn and set her down gently. She stared at Vaughn and raised a hand to caress his face. “My son,” she whispered and closed her eyes.

A broken roar echoed across the battlefield.

Bridget sat with Jack as Siobhan tended to his wounds. He winced as the deep gash on his side knitted together.

“Hold still you baby!” Siobhan told him.

He glared at her, “Ma’am, your bedside manner is atrocious.”

She rolled her eyes and slapped his leg. “All better, now get out of here so I can tend to your boyfriend,” she ordered.

Jack gave her a sarcastic salute and walked away with Bridget on his arm. “She’s as prickly as a cactus,” he told her.

Bridget laughed; relieved Jack wasn’t too gravely injured. Then sobered.

He had quite a few cuts and bruises, and he’d been stabbed in his side, hence all the blood, but assured her the other guy looked worse. Davis had taken on a few cuts and bruises as well, but Shepard had been gravely injured.

A jagged tear in one wing and a broken leg in his dragon form had meant a broken arm and a massive knife wound from his shoulder down his side. In human form it would reach his waist. He’d lost a lot of blood, and it was a miracle he’d made it back at all. Siobhan had tended him first and now he was stabilized while Davis looked on, refusing to leave his brother’s side. They would be sending him to the hospital shortly.

Dio had not returned. He had taken a knife to the heart meant for Jack.

Shepard had tried to bring the fallen wielder back, but he couldn’t. Jack couldn’t either, it was carry Dio or carry Mirra.

She pulled Jack to a stop and held him. “Thank you, brother, for taking that on. I know Vaughn appreciates it. Eventually, he will forgive us for keeping this from him and thank you himself.”

Jack hugged her back and said, “Anything for you, sister, but you know you owe me in Dio’s honor.” He closed his eyes in pain from what he’d seen and whispered, “Dio.”

Bridget and Circe stood together, ready to enact the next part of their plan. Circe was going to enhance Bridget’s voice so it could be heard throughout the compound. Many more of the lower-level Shadow Claw had come out, surrendering, begging for refuge. They all claimed the King was still inside, and they’d only acted on his orders because he tortured those who defied him.

Mirra confirmed much of this as well. Her jailers were kind to her over the years unless they were caught by the King when he came down to taunt her. He’d taken her those years ago because he’d been struck by her beauty and wanted her for himself. She refused him, she had a mate and a son. She could never love someone as cruel as him. He wasn’t a take no for an answer kind of guy.

Bridget smiled softly as she watched Ivan and Mirra reunite after so many years. Tears fell all around when they pulled Vaughn into their embrace. She hated Azrael even more now, but she couldn’t afford to let that emotion distract her.

Chapter 47

“Icall upon theShadow King Azrael. I implore you to come out and end this violence. Meet with me. You have stolen something from us, but we have taken it back. We are tired of the bloodshed, the violence, and the killing. We offer you a trade. In exchange for you stopping your attacks upon the Wielders and Dragon kind, I will come with you willingly. I am the Wielder of Prophecy. I am the one you want, and I have something else you want as well. Come now and meet with me. You have five minutes to appear, or I will trigger the volcano beneath you and demolish this place.” She motioned to the brown team who pushed energy into it, making it rumble in warning.

Bridget nodded at Circe; she was done. She hoped her appeal worked, and he took the bait. She knew what he wanted; she’d seen it in his mind when he grabbed her. She shuddered at the thought of him getting his hands on her. She waited there, Circe drifting back to the others, leaving her alone.

Bridget,Vaughn called to her,what was that part about having something else he wanted?What do you mean?

She was quiet for a moment and finally said,because I do.She heard growling behind her, and then he appeared next to her.

“What does that mean?” he demanded softly, taking her hand.

“It means we have an extra bargaining chip. I have something else he wants. How’s your mother?” she asked.

“She’s weak, but she will be okay. Bridget, I know you are trying to change the subject, but I do thank you for bringing her back to me. We need to have a little talk about secrets, but I can’t tell you what it means. I love you so very much. Thank you.” He kissed her.

“Well, isn’t this a touching scene,” she heard Azrael say with a sneer in his voice. Bridget and Vaughn turned to face him.

“Azrael, I welcome you, King of the Shadows,” she said.

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